HUD Holds Funding Meeting
Nonprofit providers of housing services for the homeless seeking federal funds are urged to attend a March 29 workshop hosted by the Santa Clara County Collaborative on Affordable Housing and Homeless Issues.
The annual workshop focusses on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) grant process. Each year, HUD gives funding through a competitive process to serve people who are homeless. The Santa Clara County Collaborative on Affordable Housing and Homeless Issues coordinates the county’s consolidated grant process and provides technical assistance to potential applicants.
The workshop is scheduled from 1-5pm, March 29, at the United Way of Silicon Valley, 1922 The Alameda, room 107, San Jose. The workshop will cover “rules” and timeline applicable to this year’s HUD competition, give a walk-through on how to complete the forms, explain participants’ obligations to HUD if they are awarded a grant and make clear the eligible uses of the funds.
Each agency that intends to submit a grant application must send a representative to this session or obtain permission to be absent by contacting Karen Gruneisen at (415) 788-7961 ext. 311.
Aid for Growers Affected by Freeze
Legislators want to help growers recover from freezing weather that damaged orchards and crops this winter by offering financial assistance to out-of-work farm workers.
The California Senate Appropriations Committee last week approved Senate Bill 116 to allow farm workers to earn up to $200 per week without jeopardizing their unemployment insurance benefits.
Introduced by State Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-San Luis Obispo, the bill is intended to allow farmers to clean up their damaged orchards and fields and prepare for next year’s crop.
“People put out of work because of the freeze in January have been waiting for the Senate Appropriations committee to finally act on this bill,” Maldonado said in a written statement. “I hope the bill is now on the fast track because it provides critical relief for those who need it most.”
According to the California Department of Labor and Workforce Development Agency more than 5,550 unemployment claims related to the freeze have been sent to the state, one third of which are from Tulare County alone.
SB 116 is expected to move to the full senate in the coming weeks.
